Antennas: power loss on polarization mismatch

Most people in RC hobby knows that receiver and transmitter antennas should match polarization. But what would happen if there was a mismatch? For example when transmitter uses linear vertical and receiver circular left hand? There would be a loss of power, attenuation. How much? Look at table below. Remember: -3dBi means half of power is lost during polarization change and you need +6dBi power (4 times more) to increase range by factor of two.

Vertical

Horizontal

LHCP

RHCP

Vertcal

0dBi

-20dBi

-3dBi

-3dBi

Horizontal

-20dBi

0dBi

-3dBi

-3dBi

LHCP

-3dBi

-3dBi

0dBi

-20dBi

LHCP

-3dBi

-3dBi

-20dBi

0dBi

-20dBi is practical value. In theory, all power should be lost during this conversion. But we are living in not perfect world and always some power will go though

Vertical – Linear Vertical Polarization

Horizontal – Linear Horizontal Polarization

LHCP – Left Hand Circular Polarized

RHCP – Right Hand Circular Polarized

Antennas: power loss on polarization mismatch was last modified: March 12th, 2016 by Dziku